What We Believe

The following are the core beliefs of First Baptist Church of Reed City based on the foundational truths taught in the bible. All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence, and love. That in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices. 
I John 5:7; Exodus20:2, 3; I Cor. 8:6; Deut. 6:4

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the VERBALLY and PLENARY inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed as no other writings have ever been or ever will be.
II Tim. 3:15-16; II Peter 1:19-21

We accept the Genesis account of creation and thereby believe that man was created by the Godhead in a state of innocence. That, by his voluntary transgression, fell, thus corrupting the stream of humanity at its fountainhead. We believe the whole of mankind is totally depraved and is in dire need of redemption from God alone.
Jer. 17:9; Gen. I:27; Gen. 3:1-9; Gen. 6:5; Rom. 3:23

We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the Lake of Fire.
Matt. 4:1-3; II Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10

We believe Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin as no other. That He was both the Son of God and God the Son, that He was crucified, buried, and risen from the grave the third day and is now seated at the right hand of the Father; thus, becoming the Author and Finisher of man's salvation. We believe He is qualified in every way to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We recognize and affirm that His death on the cross was to be a substitutionary attornment for Man’s sin.
Gen. 3:15; Isa.7:14; Phil. 2:7; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 5:1;
Acts 4:12;  Acts 13:39; Rom. 8:1, 2

We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.
Rom. 6:13; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:16, 25; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:10;
I Peter I:14-16; I John 3:5-9

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by the power of God and are thus secure in Christ forever. John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; I Cor. I:4-8; I Peter 1-5; I John 2:19. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.
Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15; II Tim. 2:19.

We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by the power of God and are thus secure in Christ forever. John 6:37-40; John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 38, 39; I Cor. I:4-8; I Peter 1-5; I John 2:19. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh.
Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11-15; II Tim. 2:19.

We believe the local church is a congregation of immersed believers associated by covenant of faith and fellowship in the Gospel,      observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges given by Him.

We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self-government, free from interference from outside organizations or individuals, and recognizing Christ as the one and only Superintendent. We believe it is scriptural for local churches to cooperate with one another in contending for the faith, but that each church is the sole judge in its method and measure of cooperation.
Acts 14:27; 20:17.

We believe in Christian baptism by immersion. We hold that this baptism is a testimony to the world, showing in a solemn and beautiful way an emblem of the believer's faith in the crucified,  buried, and risen Savior. We also hold that the believer's life should demonstrate His being dead to sin and alive to God.
Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-5; Col.2:12.

We believe the Lord's Supper is a commemoration of the death of Christ till He returns and should always be preceded by self-examination.
1 Cor.11:28; Luke 22:19-22.

We believe there is a vast difference in the terms "righteous" and "wicked." That only those who have been regenerated by the Spirit of God through faith in the Son of God are deemed righteous by Him. We believe those who continue in their unbelieving and unrepentant state are held as wicked in God's esteem. We also believe this distinction will be and will remain unchanged after death and continue for the everlasting ages to come, the righteous dwelling in the presence of God their Savior and the wicked in conscious everlasting suffering in the Lake of Fire.
Mal. 3:18; Gen. 18:23; Rom. 6:17-18, 23; Proverbs 14:32;
Matt. 25:34-46; John 8:21; Rev. 22:11

We believe in the "Blessed Hope," the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones.
1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; Heb. 9:28; John 14:13; James 5:8.

We believe in Christ's subsequent return to earth with His saints to establish His Millennial Kingdom. 
Zech. 14:4-11; Matt. 24:29-30; Acts 1:11; Rev. 19:11-16.